Henry f schmidt of lansdowse



H. F. SCHMIDT April 22, 1930. PUMP Re. 17,648

Original Filed March 28, 1929 1 z I l I Reissued Apr. 22, 1930 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY F; SCHMIDT, OF LANSIJOWNE, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING CQTM PANY, A;CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA PUMP Original No. 1,747,848, dated February18, 1930, Serial No. 350,762, filed March 28, 1929. Application forreissue filed March 12, 1920.

My invention relates to elastic fluid devices and more particularly toblowers of the propeller type.

With propeller type blowers it is a matter of considerable convenienceto be able readlly to adjust or to renew the bearings and the propellerwithout dismantling the entire blower structure. It frequently happensthat the housing of the blower, which takes the form of a tubular memberhaving the propeller arranged therein, has its ends associated withstructural members and the prime mover of the blower is also supportedin place with respect to the housing and w th respect to the drivingshaft. Ordinarily, with a construction of this type, access is had tothe propeller and to the bearings by very largely dismantling the entireconstructlon. It 1s, therefore, the object of the present invention toprovide an improved type of blower where in the propeller and thebearings may be reached without dismantling the structure; and, to thisend, a door is arranged at oneside of the propeller of sufficient sizeto permit of the passage of the propeller therethrough and the outerbearing for the propeller shaft is carried by an axially movable guidevane structure. With this arrangement, when it is desired to have accesseither to the bearing or to the propeller, the guide vane structure ismoved axially away from the propeller, thereby disengaging its bearingfrom the pro- )eller shaft and then access may be had to the bearingsand to the propeller through the door.

This and other objects are effected by my invention, as will be apparentfrom the following specification and claims taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing myimproved blower; and

2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings now more in detail, I show a blower housing 10having a propeller 11 arranged therein. Supporting structure 12 extendsaxially of and, within the housing and it supports the propeller shaftSerial No. 435,377.

13, a bearing 14 being carried by the supporting structure and adjacentto the propeller 11.

The housing 10 is provided, at the side of the propeller 11 remote fromthe bearing 14, with an opening 15, which is of sufiicient size topermit of the ia-ssage of the propeller therethrough. At the same sideof the, propeller and arranged within the housing, there is anaxially-movable guide Vane structure 16, the latter structure includingthe peripheral element 17 arranged to fit the interior of the housing 10and a central hub portion 18 preferably terminating in a fairing coneportion 19. Adjacent to the propeller 11, the hub portions 18 isprovided with a bearing 20 arranged to fit the outer end of thepropeller shaft 13.

hen the guide vane structure is in normal position with the bearing 20fitting the outer end of the propeller shaft 13, the peripheral portion17 fits a shoulder 22 provided within the housing in order to form asupport for the guide vane structure and to limit movement thereoftoward the propeller. In order that access may be had to the propellerthrough the opening 15, it is necessary that the guide vane structure 16shall be raised. Any suitable means may be employed for this purpose solong as the guide vane structure is moved sufliciently far away from thepropeller to permit of the desired access to the bearings and to thepropeller and to permit the removal and replacement of these partsthrough the opening 15. For example, I show the housing provided withlongitudinal slots 23 through which extend cars 24 provided on the guidevane structure. Bars 25 are connected to the ears and these bars may beutilized in lifting the guide vane structure. Assuming the guide vanestructure is moved away from the propeller a desired distance, it may beretained in the like position, by suitable pins or other means passingthrough the ears 26 provided on the housing and through intermediateopenings 27 provided in the bars 25. v i

As shown, the slots 23, as well as the opening 15, are covered by thepcripheral'portion 17 of the guide fvanestructure. However, I prefer toprovide a door 30 for the opening 15, the door having suitable hinges 31at one side and latch means at the other side.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that, when the guide vanestructure 16 is moved away from the propeller and the door is opened,the bearing 20 is then accessible for repair, adjustment, or renewal.The propeller may be removed from the propeller shaft 13 and taken outthrough the opening 15, and such propeller may be repaired or a new oneinserted through the opening and secured in place with respect to thepropeL' ler shaft 13. Also, if the propeller is removed, the bearing 14may be adjusted, repaired or renewed. All of these thingsmay be donewithout dismantling any of the blower structure other than to the extentindicated. The housing structure 10 remains in place and the same istrue with res sect to the central-supporting structure 12 and thepropeller shaft 13. i

\Vhile I have shown my invention in but one fornnitwill be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various changes and modifications Without departing from the spiritthereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall beplaced thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are speoi.fically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: I I

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of ahousing, a propeller in the housing, guide vane means arranged in thehousing and cooperating with the propeller, means providing for axialmovement of the guide vane means toward and away from the propeller.said housing having an opening arranged to permit of the passagetherethrough of the propeller when the guide wane means is moved awayfrom the propeller, and means for closing said opening.

2. In apparatus of the character described. the combination of ahousing, a supporting structure extending into the housing and having ahearing at its inner end; a driving shaft carried by the supportingstructure and fitti tr said bearing; a propeller carried hythe drivingshaft; and guide vane structure fitting the interior of the housing,movable axially with respect to the housing, arranged at the side of thepropeller opposite to said bearing, and provided with a bearinglittingthe outer end of said driving shaft.

3. 1n apparatus of the character described, the combination ofa housing,a propeller in the housing, abearing arranged atone side of thepropeller, a driving shaft fitting said bearing and extending throughand beyond the'propeller, guide vane means fitting the interior of thehousing, and provided with a bearing fitting the end portion of saiddriving shaftQsaid guide vane structure being constructed and arrangedto move axially of the housing in order. to engage and disengage itsbearing with respect to the driving shaft, an opening provided in thehousing at one side of the propeller and of such size as to provide forthe passage of the propeller therethrough, and means for closing theopenlng.

4-. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of ahousing, apropeller in the housing, guide vane means arranged in thehousing andcooperating with the propeller, means for normally supportingthe guide vane means in fixed position adjacent to the propeller, saidsupporting means being arranged to afford displacement of the guide vanemeans Within the housing in a direction away from the propeller, andmeans em bodied in the housing for affording access to the propellerwhen said guidevane means is in displaced position. i

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this eleventhday of March,

HENRY F. SCHMIDT.

